Have you ever wondered why some websites are easy to navigate while others make you click around in frustration before giving up? More often than not, it comes down to something as simple (and complex!) as the Laws of Proximity. This is one of the psychological principles that can make your design feel intuitive and well-organized—or chaotic and confusing.
What are the Laws of Proximity?
The Laws of Proximity are part of the Gestalt principles in perception theory. They describe how we, as humans, tend to perceive objects that are close to each other as belonging to the same group. Think of it as visual glue—elements placed close together are seen as connected, while those farther apart are perceived as separate.
This principle plays a major role in how we interpret information on a screen. Imagine a list of products on an online shop. If the price is placed too far from the product image, it can cause confusion and make the user lose their sense of overview. The Laws of Proximity make it clear that grouping related elements closely together helps users quickly decode the content.
How to use the Laws of Proximity in UX Design
1. Group related elements
Make sure that elements belonging together are placed close to each other. This applies to everything from product information to navigation menus. If a button and its corresponding text are too far apart, the user may be unsure which text belongs to which button.
2. Use whitespace strategically
Whitespace isn’t just “empty space”—it’s a designer’s best friend. It helps separate groups of elements and creates a natural hierarchy. By adding space between sections, you guide the user through the content and make it clear what belongs together and what’s distinct.
3. Create visual order
A clean and well-structured page doesn’t happen by chance. By using the Laws of Proximity, you can prioritize what the user sees first. For example, you can use tighter groupings for important call-to-actions and looser ones for less critical elements. Think of a product description where the headline, price, and buy button should be placed close together to signal their connection.
4. Optimize for mobile devices
With less screen space, using the Laws of Proximity becomes even more important. If elements are crammed too tightly without clear groupings, users may quickly lose their orientation. Add breathing room between elements to make it easier to tap and to clarify what belongs together.
Examples of the Laws of Proximity in practice
Take a look at websites like Google and Apple—they’re masters of using the Laws of Proximity to create clarity. Their designs are streamlined with clear divisions between sections. Navigation menus, product descriptions, and images are all grouped in a way that instantly makes sense to the eye.
Or consider how Facebook groups posts, comments, and reaction buttons. Everything related to a single post is bundled together, so users can easily see which comments and likes belong to which post. It all feels natural because it follows the Laws of Proximity.
The key takeaway
When designing, it’s essential to think about how your elements are perceived in relation to one another. The Laws of Proximity help you create a structure that feels both logical and intuitive to the user. Use the principle to group elements effectively, and you’ll see how your user experience becomes more streamlined and scannable.
So next time you’re working on a design project, remember: it’s not always the details of each individual element, but the way they’re connected that creates the magic.